Apparatus for removing lengths from a moving-strip of glass



March15,1938. KE 2,111,393

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LENGTHS FROM A MOVING STRIP OF GLASS Filed May 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VV/V70/?. do 5 EPH GASK ELL 5v 41 QM.-

March 15, 1938.

Filed May 2;"7,

J GASKELL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LENG'LHS FROM A MOVING STRLP F GRASS 2 Sheets-63mm 2 FIG}.

flan mm? dos EPH G sk E1114 r- 6 Wk Patented Mar. 15, 1938,

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LENGTI IS FROM A MOVING-STRIP OF GLASS Joseph Gaskell, St. Helens, England, assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Pittsburgh,

Application May 27, 1936, Serial No. 82,070 In Great Britain June 1, 1935 7 Claims. (01. 49-48) This invention relates to vertically drawn glass strip and has for its object an improved appa-,

The cut oif length is then run off clear of the frame, at a speed higher than the drawing speed, and the frame is returned to its upright position when the cut length is clear of it. Preferably, a switch on the frame operated by the rising of the strip to a predetermined height, sets in operation the means for rotating the frame into the running off position and the same switch, on its return movement, when the cut-off length is clear of the frame, sets in operation the means for returning the frame to its upright position. The cut-ofi length may be run off at high speed by its being brought to lie on a plurality of high speed rollers when the frame is moved to the running off position, the grip of the frame rollers being released to free the cut-off length. Alternatively, the driven roller of each pair of gripping rollers may be driven through a free-wheel clutch and means provided whereby the rollers are driven at the high speed when the frame is brought into the running off position.

When the strip is cut by scoring and snapping,

the operation of removing lengths may be made fully automatic by electrical switchgear whereby the scoring device is set in operation by the rising of the strip to a predetermined height and its movement, on reaching the end of its traverse sets in operation the means for rotating the frame into the running off position; the movement of the cut-off length in running off may set in operation the means for returning the frame to its upright position, and the movement of the frame, in so returning, may set in operation the return of the scoring device to its normal position.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of two alternative forms of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a scoring device, and

Figure 4 is a diagram of electrical connections for fully automatic operation.

Referring to Figure l, the strip of glass 1, issuing from the annealing tower, passes the le by the two pairs'of rollers 4, 5 and 6, 1. The glass strip is scored along a line opposite the roller 2. The rollers 4-1 are carried on a frame having side plates 8 which are carried on the shaft 9 journalled in the main frame Ill. The 5 shaft 9 carries, on the near side of the frame 10, the arm H, to which is pivoted the connecting rod I 2, which is pivoted at l3 to the piston rod I 4 of a hydraulic cylinder l5, resting on brackets I6 on the frame Ill. If fluid be admitted to the 1 right hand end of the cylinder IS, the piston rod I 4 is moved to the left and the arm II is moved into the position shown in dotted lines. Thereby, the frame 8 is moved into a horizontal position, in which the rollers 4-'l occupy the position shown in dotted lines. In this position the rollers 4 and 6 have their upper surfaces just below the plane of the upper surfaces of three rollers 11 carried on the main frame 10 by brackets l8.

The roller I9 is the first roller of a conveyor, 20

' adapted to receive and convey away the cut length of glass strip.

The rollers 3, 4 and 6, and the rollers 11 are driven as fo11ows:--'Ihe main driving shaft 20 carries a chain wheel 21 on the inside of the frame Ill and a. chain 22 on the wheel 2| passes round a chain wheel 23 fixed to the roller 3, which is free to turn on the shaft 9. Also fixed to the roller 3 is a second chain wheel 24, and chain wheels 25 are fixed to the rollers 4 and 6. A chain 26 passes from the chain wheel 24 and engages the chain wheels 25, passing round the idle chain wheel 21 on the pin 28. The speed of the chain 26 is such as to turn the rollers 3, 4 and 6 at the speed of draw of the glass strip l. A gear wheel 29 carried on the shaft 20 drives a. pinion 30 on the pin 3|. The pinion 30 carries a chain wheel 32 which drives, by a chain 33, a chain wheel 34 on the pin 35 fixed to the bracket I8. The chain wheel 34 is attached to a second chain Wheel 31 and a chain 36 passes round the wheel 31 and an idle chain wheel 38 at the right hand end of the apparatus. The chain 36 engages chain wheels 39 on the ends of the rollers l'l, turning these clockwise at a speed considerably higher than the speed of the rollers 4 and 6..

The rollers 5 and l are carried in bearing blocks 40 fixed to rods 41 which pass through the bearing blocks 42 of the rollers 4 and 6, and are provided with springs 43 which press the rollers 5 and 1 against the rollers 4 and 6 respectively, to grip the glass strip I. Bolts 44 are fixed to brackets on the upper part of the main frame 10. and erase placed that, when the frame 8 is ends of the rods 4| strike the bolts 44 and the rods H are moved against the pressure of the springs 43 to raise the rollers I and I clear of the glass strip.

The hydraulic cylinder l5 has pipes 45 from its two ends leading to a valve box 46, to which fluid under pressure is brought by the pipe 41. The valves of the box 46 are operated by two solenoids 48 and 45*. A roller 49, on an arm 50, adapted to turn on a bar 5i fixed to the frame 8, is so placed as to be struck by the upper edge of the glass strip I, the arm 50 being thereby turned clockwise. The arm 50 is adapted to close one or other of two electrical contacts (not shown) in the circuits of the solenoids 44 and 48' respectively. One of the contacts is closed by spring pressure when the roller 49 is free of the glass strip, and operates the solenoid 48 which admits fluid into the left hand end of the cylinder i5 to move the frame into the position shown. When the glass strip causes the arm to turn towards the position shown, the first contact is opened and, in the position shown, the second contact is just being made. This latter contact causes the solenoid 48 to operate and admit fluid to the right hand end of the cylinder IS. The arm 50 may be made adjustable in position on. the frame to adjust the length to be cut off.

In operation, the glass strip is scored along a line opposite the idle roller 2. The score is made at such a time that. when the strip has risen to the height shown, the scored line is opposite the point of contact of the roller 3. At this moment. the cylinder i5 is operated to turn the frame 8 into the horizontal running of! position. In doing so, the glass strip l is snapped along the line of the score and, by the pivoting movement of the frame 5 about a centre out of the plane of the strip, the two out edges of the glass strip are separated immediately after snapping. The cut 01! length of strip is brought down to rest on the rollers II, ,the rollers 5 and I being moved clear of the strip as explained above. The cut oil. length is then run of! rapidly to the right, by the rapid rotation of the rollers l I, on to the conveyor rollers it. As soon as the back end of the cut of! length has passed beyond the roller 49, the arm 55 turns to close the contact which causes fluid to be admitted to the left hand end of the cylinder l5, andso causes the frame 4 to be returned to the position shown, ready to receive another length of glass strip.

If the lay-out of the plant permits it, the running off of the cut-off length may be eifected by gravity, the frame then being rotated through more than a right angle, so as to bring the cutoff length ,on to a plurality of idle rollers on an inclined plane.

In the alternative form of apparatus shown in Figure 2, the construction differs from that shown in Figure 1, only in the means for running off the cut-off length. The rollers 4 and 8 of the frame 8 are driven, as before, by the chain 25, and chain wheels 25. The wheels 25, however, drive the rollers through free-wheel clutches, of which that driving 'the roller 5 is shown at 52 by the front member of the frame 5 being broken away and the chain wheel 25 removed. The chain wheel 25 is attached to the inner member of the clutch 52, while the outer member is a chain wheel 53 attached to the roller 4. When the frame 8 is brought into a,111,ses

tion of Figure 1. By reason of the free-wheel clutches 52, the rollers 4 and 4. are driven at high speed by the chain I4, and thereby the cutoff length of strip is rapidly ejected from the frame on to the conveyor rollers ll. This construction obviates the need for releasing the grip on the strip between the pairs of rollers 4, 5 and 6, 1, by means of the rods 4! and bolts 44 of the construction of Figure 1.

Alternatively, the free-wheel clutches may be at an earlier element in the drive to the rollers 4 and 6, as for instance, between the chain wheels 23 and 24, and then the chain 26 may be adapt ed to engage high speed driving means when the frame is rotated into the running oil. position.

The above described apparatus for snapping and removing cut-off lengths of strip is preferably combined by electrical switch gear with a scoring device, so that the operations of scoring, snapping and removing cut-off lengths are carried out automatically, the start of the operations being determined by the rise of the strip to a predetermined height,

Any form of automatic scoring device may be employed or an electric cracking device may be employed, in which case the above described apparatus operates only to remove the cracked-oil? length. By way of example, one form of scoring device will now be briefly described with reference to Figure 3, in which it is illustrated diagrammatically and with reference to Figure 4 showing the electric switch circuit. Referring to Figure 3, the'strip of glass i is scored by a cut ter 54 mounted on a carriage 55 which is adapted to slide on a guide 58 held in supports 51. In order to secure a horizontal cut across the upwardly moving glass sheet, it is necessary that the guide 56 should "be inclined upwardly from its starting end in accordance with the speed of draw, this being an expedient well known in the art. -The carriage 55 is traversed by cables 58 which pass round idle pulleys 59 and double idle pulleys Ill and double pulleys 5| on the two ends, respectively, of the piston rod 62 of a hydraulic cylinder 53. The cables terminate at fixed blocks 54. Pipes 55 and 55 pass from the two ends of the cylinder 58 to a valve box 51 with supply pipes 48. Solenoids 59 and Iii control the admission of fluid under pressure to the pipes 55 and 55 respectively. Operation of the solenoid ll causes the rod 82 to move to the left and causes the carriage 55 to move to the right on its operative stroke. Operation of the solenoid 69 causes the carriage 55 to make its return movement, which is rendered inoperative by means which need not be described here. The carriage 55, guide 55 and cutter 54 are shown in Figure 2 in the position they occupy relative to the removing apparatus, when fully automatic operation is employed. Further, for fully automatic operation, a switch arm Ii (Figure 2) is pivoted on the frame ill at 12 and carries a roller 13 which is depressed against a spring 14 by the end of the piston rod i4 when this reaches its right hand position, that is to say, when the frame Bis in its vertical position.

The electrical circuits are shown in Figure 4. In this, the switch arm 50, with roller 49 struck by the ascending strip l is shown with two contacts I5 and 15. Also the arm H with roller struck by the end of the piston i4 is shown with a single contact ll, which is closed when the frame 0 is upright. The two solenoids 48 and 4. of the cylinder l5 and the two 45 and Hi of the cylinder 63 are shown with their reference numbers. The cutter carriage 55 on its guide 56 is adapted to strike a contact arm 1'! with contact 18. when in its normal position, that is to say, ready to make its operative movemerit to the right. It is also adapted to strike an arm 19 with two contacts 80 and BI when it reaches the end of its operative stroke. The two arms 11 and 19 are connected by a link 82. The four solenoids have suflicient resistance to prevent their operation if a circuit is closed through three of them in series.

In the position shown, the parts are in their normal position, with the glass strip rising, and just causing the arm 50 to close the contact I5. Current then passes from the positive main through arm 50,, contact I5, solenoid 10,- contact 8!), arm 19 to the negative main. The energizing of solenoid 10 causes the carriage 55 to make its operative movement to score the glass. When the carriage 55 reaches the end of its travel, it causes contact 80 to open and contacts 8| and 18 to close. Current then passes from the positive main through arm 50, contact 15, solenoid 48. contact 8|, arm 19 to the negative main. ,The energizing of solenoid 48 causes the frame 8 to turn to the horizontal, snapping and removing the cut-off length. Also the contact 83 made by the arm H is opened. As soon as the glass has left the frame the arm 50 opens the contact 15 and closes the contact 16. Current then passes from the positive main, through arm 50, contact l6, solenoid 48*, contact 8|, arm 19 to the negative main. The energizing of solenoid 48* causes the frame 8 to return to its vertical position ready to receive a further length of strip. As soon as the frame reaches the vertical position, arm 1| closes contact 83 and currentpasses from the positive main, through arm 50, contact 76, also. through contact 83, arm H, solenoid 69, contact 18, arm 11 to the negative main. The energizing of solenoid 69, causes the carriage 55 to return to the position shown, opening contacts 18 and BI and closing contacts 80. The cycle is then completed.

The circuits described areillustrations of one way of securing fully automatic operation, and other circuits may be employed to reach the same result. Further, the return of the scoring device to its normal position may be effected at any point of the cycle.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously rising vertically drawn strip of glass comprising a pivoted frame, driven gripping rollers on the frame, adapted to receive the rising strip of glass and to drive it at the speed of draw, means for scoring the strip, means for rotating the frame from an upright receiving position to a running off position clear of the rising strip, stop means for engaging the strip opposite the line of scoring for causing it to crack off along such line when the frame is rotated from upright position, means for running the cut-01f length out of the frame longitudinally thereof at a speed higher than the drawing speed and means for returning the frame to its upright position when the cut-off length is clear of it.

2. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously rising vertically drawn strip of glass comprising a pivoted frame, driven gripping rollers on the frame adapted to receive the rising strip of glass and to drive it at the speed of draw,

, strip of glass, a scoring device,

means for cutting the strip, means for rotating the frame from an upright receiving position to a running of! position clear of the rising strip, means on the frame operable by the rising strip to set in operation the means for rotating the frame into the running off position, means for running the cut-off length out of the frame longitudinally thereof at a speed higher than the drawing speed, means on the frame, operable by the running oif movement of the cut-off length, to set in operation means for returning the frame to its upright position.

3. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously rising vertically drawn strip of glass comprising a pivoted frame, driven gripping rollers on the frame adapted to receive the rising strip of glass and to drive it at the speed of draw, means for cutting the strip, means for rotating the frame from an upright receiving position to a running off position clear ofthe rising strip, a

plurality of high speed rollers adapted to receive the cut-01f length in the running off position, means operable by the movement of the frame to running off position for releasing the grip of the frame rollers and means for returning the frame to its upright position when the cut-off length is clear of it.

4. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously rising vertically drawn strip of glass, comprising a pivoted frame, gripping rollers on the frame adapted to receive the rising strip of glass, means for driving the rollers, free wheel clutches in the driving means, means for cutting the strip, upright receiving position to a running off position clear of the rising strip, driving means of higher speed than the drawing speed adapted to drive the gripping rollers in the running off position and means for returning the frame to its upright position when the cut-off length is clear of it.

5. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously rising vertically drawn strip of glass comprising a pivoted frame, gripping rollers on the frame adapted to receive the rising strip of glass, means for driving the rollers, free wheel clutches in the driving means, means for cutting the strip, means for rotating the frame from an upright receiving position to a running off position clear of the rising strip, means on the frame operable by the rising strip to set in operation the means for rotating the frame into the running off position, driving means of higher speed thanthe drawing speed adapted to drive the gripping rollers in the running off position, and means on the frame, operable by the running off movement of the cut-off length, to set in operation means for returning the frame to its upright position. i

6. Apparatus for removing lengths from a continuously risingvertically drawn strip of glass, comprising a pivoted frame, driven gripping rollers on the frame adapted to receive the rising means operable by the rising of the strip to a predetermined height to set the scoring device in operation, means for rotating the frame from an upright receiving position to a running off position clear of the rising strip, means operable by the scoring device on reaching the end of its traverse to set in operation the said rotating means, means for running the cutoff length but of the frame at a speed higher than the drawing speed and means for returning the frame to its upright position when the cut-off length is clear of it.

means for rotating the frame from an 10 of the rising strip, means operable by the scoring a,111,aoa

device on reaching the end of its traverse to set in operation the said rotating means, means for running the cut-off length out of the frame at a speed higher than the drawing speed, means for returning the frame to its upright position and means operable by the movement of the cutoff length in moving clear of the frame to set in operation the said. returning means.

JOSEPH GASKELL. 

